Three GB waterskiers and one wakeboarder will compete at what claims to be the world’s most prestigious professional competition, the Masters, taking place in Georgia, USA, this coming weekend.

Only a handful of the world’s best waterskiers and wakeboarders in each discipline of the sport are invited to test their skills against each other at this annual event after a qualification process.

Joel Poland - the Overall World Waterski Champion and world record holder - will be hoping to repeat his success of last year when he won the Men’s Jump title and picked up bronze in Men’s Tricks. 

Joel Poland at the 2022 Masters. Photo Johnny Hayward

In 2022, he got the better of the current World Men’s Jump Champion and world record holder, Ryan Dodd of Canada, and the 14-times Masters Jump Champion, Freddy Krueger of the USA. Both will be at Robin Lake, Callaway Gardens, this weekend looking for revenge.

Since the 2022 Masters, Joel has topped the Men’s Tricks podium twice in major professional competitions, most recently in April at the inaugural Swiss Pro Tricks in Florida.

He will be joined in the Men’s Jump by Jack Critchley, a former Masters bronze medallist in the event.   Jack secured his 2023 spot with a jump of 67.5 metres in the last qualifying competition, which was held at Jack Travers Sunset Lakes in Groveland, Florida, on Sunday 21^st May.

 Jack Critchley at the 2021 Masters. Photo Vincent Stadlbaur

In Men’s Slalom, Will Asher is GB’s sole representative.  A five-time Masters Champion, he finished on the podium in both 2021 (joint second) and 2022 (third). This will be his 19^th appearance at the Masters.

Will is a two-time World Champion (2005, 2009) and finished the 2022 season ranked number one in the world in Men’s Slalom.

Will Asher at the 2022 Masters. Photo: James Timothy

Each of the waterskiing events will feature just eight athletes with the four highest scorers going through to the final.

GB’s youngest competitor is 22-year-old Luca Kidd, who was third in Men’s Wakeboard in 2022 in only his second appearance at the Masters.  It was his first professional podium.

He is one of 10 competitors to earn their place in the Men’s Wakeboard event.  

Luca Kidd at the 2022 Masters. Photo James Timothy

The 63^rd Nautique Masters will be held at Robin Lake, Callaway Gardens, in Pine Mountain, Georgia, from 26^th to 28^th May 2023.

Friday is the Junior Masters and the Open competition takes place on Saturday with the finals on Sunday.

You can find more information, including the schedule, on the Masters website where you will also be able to watch the live webcast.